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Hanzlik verbally commits to Wisconsin

By Mark Massoglia, Daily Tribune Media
10:55 a.m. CDT July 24, 2014

Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln sophomore Kyleigh Hanzlik verbally committed to play hockey at the University of Wisconsin. She will be part of the Badgers' 2017 recruiting class.(Photo: Casey Lake/Daily Tribune Media)

For as long as she can remember, Kyleigh Hanzlik has been attending University of Wisconsin women's hockey games.

In a few short years, she won't be watching from the stands, but be on the ice at the LaBahn Arena skating for the Badgers. The Wisconsin Rapids sophomore verbally committed Sunday to Wisconsin and will be a member of Wisconsin's 2017 recruiting class.

Hanzlik made an unofficial visit to Madison in March where she met with the coaching staff, toured the campus and met with academic advisers. A strong showing at the USA Hockey National camp — an event with the best players in her age group — in St. Cloud, Minn., July 9-15 may have been what convinced head coach Mark Johnson and his staff that they wanted Hanzlik to play for Wisconsin.

Two days after the Minnesota camp, Hanzlik was asked to skate in a captain's workout. After that, she was called up to associate coach Dan Koch's office and he extended an offer.

"I didn't know what to say," Hanzlik said. "I was in shock. I wasn't expecting it and told him I had to talk with my family. I called him back a few days later and told him I wanted to be a Badger.

"The school is good, the hockey program is one of the best in the country, and I've known the coaches for a while and they're easy to talk to."

The time line may appear fast to offer a such a young player a scholarship, but Hanzlik has been on Wisconsin's radar for some time.

"She's played with the Madison Capitals for two years and got some good exposure," said John Hanzlik, Kyleigh's father. "A lot of coaches knew about her from playing in Madison, and I think the Wisconsin coaches wanted to see her again against the best competition in her age group in the country. They must have liked what they saw from Kyleigh in Minnesota, because she got the offer shortly after that."

“I didn't know what to say. I was shocked.”

Kyleigh Hanzlik

Wisconsin wasn't the only school interested in her. Minnesota, Ohio State, Penn State and North Dakota were her top five schools.

Offering scholarships to young athletes is nothing new. What makes Hanzlik's case unique is that she hasn't played a minute of girls high school hockey.

Hanzlik played with the boys for eight years at the youth level in Wisconsin Rapids. When it came time for high school, she opted to play for the North American Hockey Academy in Stowe, Vt. The Winter Hawks play in the Junior Women's Hockey League.

That meant Hanzlik would be away from home from October to March.

"It was extremely tough to come to that point and be willing to send your 14-year-old daughter across the country for five months, but we thought it was her best option to reach her goals," John said. "It was her decision, and we had to cope with it."

Added her mother Jennifer, "You don't want to be the thing that stands in the way. If this is designed to happen, you have to support it. In some ways, letting her go was less selfish. It would be easier to say, 'Absolutely not, you're staying here with me.' But that would be about me and not really what's best for her."

Kyleigh had 61 points (32 goals and 29 assists) for NAHA last year and was the No. 2 scorer on the Winter Hawks Red team, which won the Junior Division with a 12-0 record.

At NAHA the girls balanced training, competition and their school work during the season.

"It was the best of both worlds," said Kyleigh, who plays tennis and runs track for Lincoln High School. "For the first part of the school year I was a normal kid, then I went to play hockey and I loved it. It's an all-girls school, so there are no distractions and we're all focused and motivated.

"I came home for Christmas break and spring break, so it didn't seem like I was away for that long. I'm excited to go back and play for the U-19 team, which will be a challenge, and I can't wait to be a Badger."

Mark Massoglia can be reached at 715-423-7200, ext. 6736. Follow him on Twitter @markmazzy.